Archaeologists are preparing to open a large black granite sarcophagus unearthed in the Egyptian port city of Alexandria. It’s been untouched for millennia and scientists are not sure what lays inside.
The almost three-metre long by two-metre high sarcophagus was discovered in a long-concealed tomb below the earth during a survey of a plot of land for a building construction. An alabaster bust, its features eroded over the centuries, was found in the tomb.
The Egyptian antiquities ministry said the sarcophagus had remained sealed for more than 2,000 years, with an undisturbed layer of mortar between the lid and the body of the massive stone coffin.
The sarcophagus, discovered during construction work, has become a source of excitement for archaeologists because a layer of mortar between the body and the lid indicates its contents have lain undisturbed since it was buried.
Without opening the sarcophagus, there are few clues about the identity of the man entombed inside. His bust is worn beyond recognition and the sarcophagus has no writings to indicate its owner.
Archaeologists however are keen to discover the identity of the enigmatic tomb owner. It is believed to be from the early Ptolemaic period, which began after the death of Alexander the Great in 323BC.
“We are hoping this tomb may belong to one of the high dignitaries of the period,” said Ayman Ashmawy, the head of ancient Egyptian artefacts at the Egypt’s ministry of antiquities. “The alabaster head is likely that of a nobleman in Alexandria. When we open the sarcophagus, we hope to find objects inside that are intact, which will help us to identify this person and their position.”
But opening it for the first time will require extensive work to be done in advance. “It’s risky to open it directly – we need to prepare,” said Ashmawy, explaining that the sarcophagus would be opened on site.
“It’s difficult to move it intact and open [it] in a museum,” he said. “It’s five metres underground and the whole thing weighs over 30 tonnes. The lid alone is 15 tonnes.”
>Juthy Saha
Egyptian Archaeologists Prepare to Open Huge Sarcophagus
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